Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3623 Oct. 17- Nov. 10 2017 | Page 31

SALTWATER VOL.36 • ISS. 23 Oct. 27 - Nov. 10, 2017 29 “Sis” Gives The Boys A Fishing Lesson During Capt. Chris Smith’s Annual Ego Trip Lingcod Derby! T California lingcod season. On one trip, I caught 14 keepers. Overall I landed 7 fish between 21 and 26 pounds and several more between 15 and 18. The majority of those fish were caught on natural baits but I managed a pair of 20 plus monsters on Ahi Assault Diamond Jigs. And luck was on my side as well, since I won the jackpot on seven different trips with big lings. By the time summer gave way to fall, lingcod fishing was winding down for me and deer hunting was very much on my mind. My freezer is stocked with a good supply of fillets and I’ve been eating lingcod two to three times a week for a few months. My last lingcod derby of the year took place on September 29 when I participated in Capt. Chris Smith’s annual Ego Trip Lingcod Derby aboard the Happy Hooker. The Ego Trip is a big money, big prize lingcod derby with a field of anglers hand picked by Chris for their fishing skills, confidence and verbal abilities. In other words, the decks are lined with a group of best and cockiest lingcod enthusiasts northern California has to offer. Since most of us have fished head to head a number of times over the past several years in big dollar tournaments, the level of smack talking is through the roof ! This is why Chris named his derby the Ego Trip. And of course, since were all buddies that smack talk is all for fun and nobody gets their feathers ruffled…LOL! This year conditions on tournament day were marginal. The forecast at the Farallon Islands called for stiff morning wind to intensify to gale force winds late in the afternoon. The question was whether to shelter along the coast or Ron Little nailed down the second spot in Chris go for it, hit the Islands and then run Smith’s 2017 Ego Trip with these husky lingcod for the bay before the wind got really and took home $500 for the effort.Photo by CAL crazy? The lure of big Farallon lings KELLOGG, Fish Sniffer Staff. got the better of us and we opted to he saltwater fishing season was intense for me this year. As part of the Cal Kellogg School of Fishing I hosted more than a dozen saltwater charter boat trips, both inside San Francisco Bay and outside the Golden Gate. Early in the season the striped bass and halibut fishing was excellent inside the bay. When that action slowed down in July, we turned our attention to lingcod and rockfish fishing both along the coast and out at the Farallon Islands. The lingcod fishing was amazing this summer and fall. My fellow anglers caught lots of big lings and I witnessed many lingcod limits hit the deck. As for me, it was my all time best WHAT’S HOT SALT by Cal Kellogg run offshore on sloppy, choppy seas. Since our crew was made up mainly of experienced charter rats, seasickness wasn’t a problem on this trip. When we arrived at the Islands, Chris lined us up over some structure and it was game on. My fishing partner for the day was Cameron Beck of Foresthill. Cam and I fished up near the bow and focused on mooching big frozen mackerel just off the bottom. The bite was good, but it wasn’t a slam dunk. I’d had a hot rod Celestia “Sis” Smith-Hinz was pretty happy after boating this all summer and I was quality lingcod, and why not? She was well on her way to beating optimistic about my all the boys and earning a fist full of cash. chances yet, I knew that Photo by LARRY NELSON, Fish Sniffer Staff. my lucky streak had to come to an end at some point. When I hooked a monster during What’s Going On, What’s Coming Up? the first hour of fishing and lost it in a tangle created by a wicked current, I was As of press time, lingcod and rockfish using 24 ounces of weight to stay on the action outside the Golden Gate is very bottom, I knew I was in for a tough day. good. The coastal fishing is solid, but the Lingcod came over the rail at a good really good action is takin place out at the clip all morning long, mainly for folks Farallons. that downsized and used smalli